At this time of year the island of Mallorca shows its natural beauty from its best side. The sun is still out most of the time but the heat of the Summer has receded. Now, walks and hikes can be done under pleasant conditions. There are hundreds of possibilities for an outing, and each one of them is more rewarding than the other.

Yesterday, we took a walk at the Península de la Victòria in the North of the island, between Alcúdia and Port de Pollença. We started our walk from the Santuario de Nostra Senyora de la Victòria, now converted into a small Hostatgeria (Petit Hotel), and headed for the Talaia d’Alcúdia. The area is classified as a Zona de Especial Protección (special protection area) for birds such as the Cormorán Moñudo (Common Shag) or the Águila Pescadora (Osprey). The Península de la Victòria is also an area where one can find plenty of Cabres Salvatges Mallorquines (wild Mallorcan goats), in fact so many of them that they can be hunted in a Coto de Caza Mayor (Big Game Reserve) either by rifle or with dogs and a lasso allowing for the animal to be caught alive.

On the way back from the the Península de la Victòria a number of small coves and secluded beaches invite for a swim. The water temperature is still pleasant enough to take a dip. It is near here where the Alcúdia Xtreme Swim Open Water was held a few weeks ago, an annual competition across the seven kilometre stretch of the Badia de Pollença from the Platja Formentor to the Platja de Sant Pere (near Mal Pas).

The photo was taken near Alcúdia, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: September 23rd, 2010. The time was 18:16:58.